Wire mat



' (No Model.)

T. C. MGPHB'RSON. WIRE MAT.

. 10.475,598. ,Patented May 24, 189.2.V

wmwmwmw/ UNITED .STATES PATENT Ormes.

THOMAS C. MCPHERSON, OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA.

WIRE MAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,598, dated May 24, 1892.

Application iiled August 11, 1891. Serial No. 402,387. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. MoPHERsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wire Mats and Matting; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mats or matting constructed for the most part of wire, the object of the invention being to provide a matting for streetcar floors, vestibules, dac., which will be ilexible, and hence capable of being rolled u p, and having great durability.

'lhe invention consists in constructing the matting of parallel coils of suitable formation connected together by interlocking, respectively, one With the other throughout the mat or matting, or by other means for forming a flexible connection between the parallel coils and providing the interior of the coils or helices, preferably every alternate one,with bars of suitable material, extending therethrough to reinforce the Wire and give body to the matting.

The invention also consists in certain other novel features in the arrangement and construction of parts, all as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this'specification, Figure l is a top or plan view of the matting; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the parallel coil or helices o f which the matting is made and constructed, the forms of the coils shown being angular and presenting flat bearing-surfaces, this being the most desirable form; but other shapes of coils can be employed Wi th good effect. These parallel helices or coils A are preferably connected tof gether by the coils of one linking or interlocking with the coils of the other, thus making a flexible or hinge connection; but a flexible joint may be secured in various other ways, as by rods running through the coils.

The coils or helices A, while of any shape,are required to have an interior space running from one end to the other, so as to permit the insertion therein of the bars B. These bars are preferably of wood and are placed in every alternate helix, the intermediate or open helix giving the necessary play at the connection so that the matting may be readily folded or rolled. The bars are of substantially the saine form and size as the coils, and hence iit within the helices tightly, so that any strain put upon the matting will be born by the wood bars and the form of the coils preserved. The terminal coil of the several helices after linking with its adjacent one, has its remaining portion C bent at right angles to the direction of the helix and terminating in a hook or eye D. The ends of the coils thus formed are hooked together, respectively, giving a iiexible connection at these points and a straight edge, and also 'dispensing with any outside frame or border.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A wire mat or matting constructed of parallel helices of wire connected together and having extending through the helices in the direction of their length bars of suitable material, having a cross-section corresponding in shape to the form of coil composing said helices and of a size suflicient to fill the interior thereof, substantially as described, whereby the helices are rendered firm and rigid and the iexibility of the connections of the helices preserved, so that the mat may be rolled or folded.

2. A wire mat or matting composed of parallel helices interlinked, and having the interior of every alternate helix provided with a bar of suitable material, having a cross-section corresponding to the form of coil composing said helices, the said bars being of approximately the size of the helices, substantially as described, whereby to fill the same and render the coils so provided lirm, while by its alternate open helix the flexibility of the mat is preserved and accumulations permitted to go through the same.

3. A wire mat or matting composed of par= IOO allel helices interlocked, each or every alterwhereby the free ends are disposed of and nate helix provided with a bar extending the bars secured within the helices. :o therethrough, having a cross-section corre- In testimony whereof I affix my signature in sponding to the form of the coil composing presence of two subscribing witnesses.

said helices and filling the same, and the ter- THOMAS C. MCPHERSON. minals of each helix bent in substantially Witnesses:

hooked form and Connected with its adjacent J F. MERRIMAN,

terminal thereby, substantially as described, O. R. MCPHERSON. 

